“There is something wrong... with your eyes.”
“No...” She quickly wiped her tears away—though more immediately took their place. “Nothing’s wrong. I don’t understand how you...”
“There is much... I must tell... Perhaps we should go to your office... where you have recording equipment.”
“Later, Mark, later. First you must—”
“No. I must tell you everything... now. Then I can rest.”
Before they had arrived at port, word had preceded them that the strange submarine had already docked, and that Commander Roth and the others seemed in good health, though dangerously exhausted. All had been hospitalized for rest.
Now Elizabeth and Mark sat in the black armchairs facing a relieved and proud Admiral Pierce. Elizabeth was wearing a civilian pantsuit, Mark was clad in Navy dress blues.
“What I’m trying to say, Mark,” the admiral was saying, “is that the good people in this world have to stick together.” He made a little temple with his hands. “What do you think about that?”
“I think you are right.”
“Well, then,” the admiral smiled and nodded, “you’ve decided to accept my offer.”
“Admira!, you are a good man. I have met many good people in your world. But I cannot know your world as you do. You cannot know my world as I do. Let us each stay in our own worlds.” He rose from his chair.
“Sorry, Mark,” the admiral shook his head, “but it’s too late for that. We’re already in your world. We are becoming more involved with it every day. Human curiosity and thirst for knowledge will persist. You could help us go into your world in the right way.”
“You don’t need me. You have your machines.”
“Machines aren’t going to be able to do what you can do for a long time, Mark, if ever. And right now there are a lot of problems to solve—medical, scientific, defense...”
Elizabeth had been watching Mark closely. Now she glanced at the admiral.
“Also some less-than-friendly people out there. You helped us get rid of one—your Mr. Schubert. There are others.”
The admiral studied Mark’s face. “He is dead, isn’t he?”
“I did not see him die.”
“Wasn’t he trapped when the undersea mountain exploded?”
“I do not know. I was not trapped.”
“Then you think he may be alive?” The admiral’s face flushed with dismay.
“I do not know. I do not make guesses. I did not see him die. Let us say good-bye now.”
Mark turned to look at Elizabeth, then started for the door.
“We don’t have to let you go, you know.”
Mark turned back to face him. “I know. But you are a good man. I believe your word.”
“Yes. Okay. I wouldn’t force you to stay. Thank you for what you’ve done for us, Mark.”
Elizabeth started out of her chair.
“No.” Mark held up a hand. “It is best if we say our good-byes quickly. Thank you, Dr. Merrill, for teaching me... so much.”
He walked out of the door.
Ernie was waiting for him at the bottom of the steps. He stuck out his hand. “Been waiting to congratulate you, Mark.”
“Thank you, Ernie.” Mark shook hands with him.
“Sometimes I don’t know what to think about you.” Ernie glanced shyly at the ground. “But one thing I think is that you’re one in a million.”
“Thank you, Ernie. I am leaving now.”
“Where to?”
“Out... to the Pacific.”
“Sea duty, hunh?” Ernie shuffied his feet awkwardly. “Sure gonna miss you and the razz. Well,” he gave Mark a wave, “keep your ears clean.”
“Yes.” Mark looked away toward the sun dipping beneath the horizon over the Pacific, and moved off toward it.
Elizabeth came running down the steps. “Mark! Mark!”
He stopped and turned back toward her.
She ran up, then stopped and looked into his eyes.
“Mark, please let me be with you when you leave—in the water. Let me say good-bye there.”
“Yes. To you only I would like to say good-bye... at the water.”
The sky had darkened by the time they reached the very beach where Mark had been found. It seemed to Elizabeth that eons had passed since then.
Her beige pantsuit fluttered in the wind as she watched the waves crest and run onto the shore, reaching just to her bare toes before receding.
Mark had stripped off his uniform and now, standing straight and formally in his tight swim trunks, he handed the uniform to her, folded neatly as a flag.
“Mark...”
“Again there is something wrong with your eyes.”
She looked quickly away. “No... nothing... just emotions. Feelings.”
He cocked his head. “Explain feelings.”
“I don’t know if I can.”
“Water from your eyes again. Explain. I will understand.”
“Well,” she looked out over the sea, her arms cradling the uniform across her chest, “when you get attached to someone and you’re close, you feel happy. But then when they go away, you feel sad. And sometimes you cry. That is the water from your eyes. I was crying. But you don’t cry.”
“No.” Mark shook his head. “I have something to say to you now—and I shall call you Elizabeth.” They looked at each other. “Keep your ears clean, Elizabeth.”
She smiled quizzically, then in spite of her emotions moments before, began to laugh. “Who taught you to say that?”
“Is it not a custom among divers when taking leave?”
“I guess so.” Her eyes moistened even as she smiled.
Mark reached out, lightly touched a tear on her cheek, and brought his finger to his mouth. “It tastes of salt.”
She nodded.
“Perhaps we are not so different... in some ways.”
He turned abruptly and walked into the dark surf. Water splashed up on him. Moonlight glistened off his wet shoulders.
He stopped and turned. “I will remember you.”
“Mark...”
But he slipped beneath the waves and was gone. From time to time she could discern his shape mov-
ing at the surface of the swells, growing smaller.
“Mark...” she said softly.
She continued to stare out across the surf and farther over the limitless Pacific. The tide was moving in and the lips of the waves now curled around her ankles, darkening the cuffs of her suit.
At first she thought what she saw was a piece of debris, riding slowly closer on the waves.
Then, nearer the shore, it rose out of the water and stood erect.
Mark strode toward her. He emerged from the surf and splashed in through the fringe of the waves until he stood before her.
For a long moment they just looked at each other.
“You came back.”
“Yes, Elizabeth. I have not yet... learned enough.”
She smiled and blinked back her tears. She held out her hand.
He took it and held it, as he had in the beginning, when she brought him back to life.
Man From Atlantis Page 17